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Community Bridges, which provides dozens of services for children, adults and seniors throughout Santa Cruz County, is moving to Watsonville. The 41-year-old organization runs family resource centers, nutrition programs and programs for seniors such as Elderday and Meals on Wheels. But it does so from its Aptos headquarters. Meanwhile, La Manzana Community Resources is centered in Watsonville, offering parenting education, health insurance enrollment assistance and literacy programs. Also at that location is the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), which offers services for pregnant and nursing women and infants.

CAPITOLA — St. John’s Helpful Shop in Capitola Village is preparing to move out and find a new home after 65 years. A literal cornerstone of the village, St. John’s Helpful Shop first opened at its location on the corner of Monterey and Capitola avenues in 1953. Women from the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, then located in the Depot Hill area of Capitola, opened the store to raise money for a new church carpet. Gradually, the church grew, and the shop became a way for St. John’s to expand its community outreach. Church and community members alike volunteer their time at the shop, with all proceeds given as grants to local nonprofits. The building that houses the Helpful Shop recently changed hands, said shop volunteer Daniel Oliver. This has prompted them to move out and possibly find a new location. “We’re currently making a decision of where and when we can reopen,” Oliver said. “We’d like to get the word out and ask help from the community.” In 2018, St. John’s Helpful Shop helped support 26 different organizations across the region — including Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, Homeless Services Center, Native Animal Rescue, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County and more. “That’s really the whole point,” Oliver said. “The outreach. We’d really like to keep that going.” Aug. 25 was the Helpful Shop’s final day open at its Capitola Village location. The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist is now located at 125 Canterbury Drive in Aptos, and Helpful Shop volunteers say they hope to find a location not too far from the church itself — but are open to other ideas. To contact St. John’s Helpful Shop, visit st-john-aptos.org.

There were several events special for the fair’s opening day. As per tradition, the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and the Watsonville Firefighters Association hosted the Opening Day Barbecue in Paddy Smith Park. People enjoyed a lunch of tri-tip, salad and garlic bread while South Bay Swing Band performed nearby on the Amphitheater Stage.

“Rachel is an outstanding individual," Agri-Culture President Steve Bontadelli said. "She is a well-rounded person who has participated in several organizations including 4-H. She will be a great addition to our agriculture community when she returns from college.” Rachel Hodder was awarded Agri-Culture’s 2017 Jeannie Witmer Memorial Scholarship. Contributed photo

Once each decade, the U.S. Census Bureau attempts to count every person in the United States.

“The Producers,” a musical comedy based on Mel Brooks’ award-winning 1967 film, will run at Cabrillo College’s Crocker Theater through Aug. 19 as part of Cabrillo Stage’s Summer Musical Festival.

"This scholarship will help me pay for college," Mora said. "I want to thank Mr. George Ow Jr. and the Ow Family for making the American Dream Scholarship possible."

Multiple Santa Cruz County law enforcement agencies responded Friday afternoon to the discovery of a butane honey oil (BHO) lab at 120 Sea Terrace Way in Aptos. Homeowners of the large vacation rental home were checking on the residence and noticed doors kicked in and a strong chemical smell coming from somewhere inside, Sgt. Brian Cleveland of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.

Photo by LIFE photographer Tarmo Hannula These men enjoy a visit to Rio del Mar State Beach Thursday during a king tide. Meteorologist Scott Rowe of the National Weather Service Monterey said there is also a chance of some coastal flooding with a chance of rain Thursday evening and into next week. Rowe said beach visitors should be cautious as they get near the shore.

Max Raasch finished his time at Cabrillo in December, and during the college’s commencement ceremony on May 25 received two associate’s degrees, one in economics and one in liberal arts. He now plans to major in legal studies and politics, and minor in Russian, at UC Santa Cruz in the fall.